The Office of Tibet Geneva mourns the passing of Chungdak Koren, a distinguished Tibetan public figure and a diplomat who departed this life on September 10 at the age of 74 after prolonged illness.
Chungdak Koren was an exemplary leader, a passionate diplomat, and a dedicated activist whose efforts left an indelible mark on the Tibetan movement. Her legacy is reflected in her many contributions as the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration at the Office of Tibet in Geneva, as a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for Europe, and as an active member of Norwegian Tibet Committee and the Tibetan community in Norway, and many other public services she had actively undertaken in her broader efforts for the cause of Tibet.
We extend our deepest condolences to Chungdak Koren’s family and friends. While we grieve her loss, we also celebrate a life lived with purpose, passion, and an unwavering commitment to the Tibetan cause.
Brief Bio of Kungo Chungdak Koren
Born in 1950 in the Phagri region of central Tibet, Chisur (Former Tibetan Parliamentarian) Chungdak Koren attended St. Joseph’s Convent, Kalimpong and UCNL School in Dehradun. Shortly after completing her schooling, Chungdak Koren began volunteering at the Transit School in Dharamshala, established by the Department of Education to address the educational needs of Tibetan children in 1967. From 1968 to 1969, she served as co-director of the Sonada Cooperative in Darjeeling. In 1969, she received a scholarship to study nursing in Oslo, Norway. Following her studies, she worked for 19 years as a nurse at Oslo University Hospital, all while remaining actively involved in grassroots efforts within both the Tibetan community and the Tibet Support Group.
In 1988, Koren was one of the key figures behind the creation of the Norwegian Tibet Committee. The following year, she was officially appointed by the Office of Tibet in London as the liaison between the Office and the Nobel Committee in preparation for the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She also played a crucial role in establishing the Voice of Tibet radio station in Norway in 1996 and continued to serve on its governing board for many years.
She also served as the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration at the Office of Tibet, Geneva from 1995 to 2001. After completing her term as Representative, Koren contributed as one of the organizers of the Graz Kalachakra in Austria in 2002. Since then, she has served as the Executive Director of the Norwegian Tibet Committee and, since 2001, as a board member of the International Campaign for Tibet (Europe). She was also instrumental in organising the first European Tibetan Congress in Switzerland.
In November 2008, Koren was honored with the Norwegian PEN’s Ossietzky Prize for her dedication to advancing the human rights of the Tibetan people. In 2011, she was elected as a member of the 15th Tibetan Parliament in Exile, representing Europe. In 2011, she was elected to the 15th Tibetan Parliament in Exile as a representative for Europe. Unfortunately, she had to resign from her position due to health issues in 2014.
Chungdak Koren passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, 10 September 2024, at a hospital in Oslo, Norway, with her spouse, Michael, by her side.
